Thousands attend unveiling ceremony

Prosper Ndlovu Acting News Editor  
THE late Vice-President, Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo must be smiling in his grave after thousands of people from all walks of life, in a show of unity, flooded Bulawayo yesterday in honour of his legacy.Parts of Main Street, now Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street and 8th Avenue had to be cordoned off to accommodate the capacity crowd that came to witness the unveiling of Dr Nkomo’s statue.

President Mugabe presided over the awesome occasion that lasted almost the whole day as the nation remembered the late veteran nationalist and peacemaker.

Keen to have a clear view of the event some people risked arm and leg to stand on roof tops and on balconies in the city’s high-rise buildings that overlook the statue.

Arguably the most captivating of the numerous enchanting moments of the event filled afternoon, was when the statue, which was wrapped in colours of the national flag, was unveiled soon after President Mugabe’s speech.  There was a stampede as scores of people sought to take photographs of the statue with their cell phones.

Security officials had a torrid time restraining the public, to pave way for the dignitaries to depart. As the wrapping cloth was slowly removed from the statue, historian Pathisa Nyathi grabbed the opportunity to burst into praise poetry in honour of Dr Nkomo and his legacy.

There was thunderous applause as the crowd ululated, with some whistling and clapping, an amazing display of individuals expressing their excitement in the crowd.

Music, poetry and dance from different arts groups kept the large gathering on their toes with the internationally travelled Black Umfolosi delivering its famous song Unity, to which many, including ministers joined in singing.

The unveiling of the statue was the crescendo of a day whose proceedings had started with the arrival of President Mugabe at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport at around 11am.  Thousands of people had already gathered for the official commissioning of the new terminal building.

The large procession then left for the city centre at around 2.30pm for the unveiling of Dr Nkomo’s statue and renaming of Main Street after the late Father Zimbabwe.

The large gathering exploded into life when President Mugabe arrived at the statue site at the intersection of Main Street, now Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street and 8th Avenue at around 4pm.

Archbishop Alex Thomas of Roman Catholic Bulawayo Diocese led the gathering in prayer for the city and thanked God for giving Zimbabwe a man of Nkomo’s stature.

Earlier on President Mugabe toured the magnificent terminal building at the airport during which he visited the mini-museum for Dr Nkomo where he spent some minutes viewing his pictures.

Scores of people, who included Cabinet Ministers led by Senior Minister of State in the President’s Office, Cde Simon Khaya Moyo, MPs, traditional leaders, the Nkomo family and members of the public took full advantage of the Unity Day holiday to witness the unveiling of the plaque at the new airport terminal.

There was a traffic jam as a majority of people who were at the airport rushed to join the thousands who were waiting at the city centre for the unveiling of the statue.

Cde Khaya Moyo delivered a speech in honour of Dr Nkomo whom he described as a great man. Home Affairs and Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Ministers Cde Kembo Mohadi and Dr Ignatius Chombo also delivered speeches urging every Zimbabwean to cherish Dr Nkomo’s legacy.

Representatives of opposition MDC and Zapu parties also attended.